Anna Primiani is an award-winning actress, writer and emerging filmmaker. She trained as a ballet dancer, studied classical music and in University she trained in theatre before moving on to acting for television and film. She has trained as an actress across Canada and in the USA. As an actress, she continues to embrace opportunities to play diverse characters from Cleopatra in Disney’s “Treasure Buddies” and Kathy, in the emotionally charged, “She could be you“, about a mother whose child goes missing in the True Story of missing Tampa girl Jennifer Marteliz. This year her micro short film, that she co-wrote and starred in, “Let Forever Be” was screened at the MLC awards in Arkansas and won her several awards for best actress. Her short film “The Choice” that she co-produced, wrote and starred in is premiering at the 56th annual Worldfest in Houston in April 2023. She will be seen this year in Hallmark’s “Team Bride” and Castle Rock Entertainment’s” Wind River: The Next Chapter.” She is in pre-production of her short film, “Weight”, that has won multiple awards in festivals this year including 8 & Halfilm Awards. She is also embarking on writing her first feature film, “Redemption”about a woman trying to escape a criminal organization that is trafficking young women. Anna believes in being a life long learner and taking the opportunites to grow and evolve as an artist. There are some exciting announcements coming soon so be sure to visit www.annaprimiani.com and support and follow Anna on Instagram- www.instagram.com/annaprimiani
-What inspired you to become a screenwriter/ filmmaker?
Inspiration comes from experience, moments in life and ultimately needs to come from within. As an actress, I breathe life into someone else’s words, make the character my own to drive the director’s vision. I am inspired to bring truth to the words. However, sometimes as an actor, we are not given the opportunity to play a character we would like. So comes the desire to write. As a writer there are moments, stories, memories in my life that resonate with me and begin to formulate into a story that I want to tell and characters I want to portray. Writer William Faulker said “the only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself.”
This has driven me as an actor, writer and filmmaker. I have also said this before but, Kurt Sutter, creator of Sons of Anarchy, inspired me to have confidence to write what I want. During the pandemic he would share insights into his process saying “Don’t worry about what’s gonna sell or what’s popular…write from pain write from shame write from places that scare you.”
I believe stories from the heart are universal and bind us to one another. I am drawn to heartfelt stories that encapsulate that feeling. From there I crafted the short story for my film “The Choice“, dealing with sisterly love and devotion intertwined with illness and intricate end of life discussions. “Weight” about a woman who returns home after the death of her father to face her past. Now as I embark on writing my first feature “Redemption“, it is a world out of my realm so it involves a lot of research and challenging myself to learn things that are unknown, uncomfortable and true. I like the challange. As a writer I can cultivate characters and a story I feel are worth telling and as a filmmaker, my goal is to bring these visions to life.
-Do you think the cinema can bring a change in the society?
I do! I think we have already been witness to the power of cinema, as well as social media and celebrities have on society both good and bad. I believe that films can be a powerful conduit to reach people worldwide. It can convey emotions and compelling messages, at times even if we do not speak the language the film is in, the message can be powerful. A film that comes to mind is “Good Will Hunting” not only is the acting stellar from Williams, Affleck and Damon as well as the writing, however it is the message that still stands the test of time. That on the surface some people might come across as violent or hateful, but if we take a moment to really listen, give people a chance if we care about one another, we can find that there is something deeper to all of us. I feel that there are films like this that reach an audience and have the power to change lives.
-What would you change in the world?
These days it’s hard to read the news. The violence and hatred that floods the media. I wish that we could learn how to respect and appreciate one another both in our personal lives and on a global scale. So many family and friends are divided by anger or inability to want to change, it would be nice for them unite in love, understanding and kindness. Again, like inspiration, change has to happen from within. Globally, I’m saddened by the hate, violence and war. It’s a human flaw to be driven by fear and hate.
-Where do you see the film industry going in the next 100 years?
Filmmaking has already evolved immensly in the last 100 years so I feel like the next 100 hold inifinate potential. I believe that The Volume, an immersive soundstage by Lucas Film has and will continue to radically revolutionize the future of the film industry. Northern Gateway Films, the Produciton company for Team Bride, located in Edmonton, Alberta also has a virtual stage. They are doing some really amazing things with their current films. Filmmaking is becoming more fluid with the ability to use a stage to create some extraordinary virtual settings, controlling how a filmmaker can shoot and the scope of storytelling. Making some things more accessible to filmmakers to be able to shoot things on a stage rather than on location. That said, I hope that the magic ofd movie making does not dissipate all together. I also hope, post pandemic, that the experience of going to a theatre remains alive for the next generation of moviegoers. To immerse themselves in the story and the world that the filmmaker seeks to create. My kids are starting to experience this the magic of movies!!
